Different bariatric procedures are based on different principles, primarily malabsorption or restriction. A problem with all restrictive procedures occurs when the restriction becomes limited, causing the gastric pouch to stretch (in the case of bypass) or stretching the sleeve (following a sleeve gastrectomy), which ultimately leads to the patient regaining weight.

The latest data from the annual F as in Fat report has reported that obesity rates in the US have plateaued in nearly all the country’s states for the first time in 30 years. Nevertheless, morbid obesity rates have grown significantly in the last 30 years; in 1980 1.4% of people were morbidly obese, compared to 6.3% today - a rise of 350%.

The latest report from the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry (SOReg) has revealed that bariatric surgery has a low mortality, low complication rate and results in a reduction of excess weight by 70 – 80% 12 to 18 months after surgery. Bariatric News talks exclusively to Dr Jan L Hedenbro, a member of the SOReg Steering Committee, about the aims, outcomes and implications of the registry.

Bariatric News speaks to Professor Mustafa Taşkın, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Turkey, and Congress President of the XVIII World Congress of the International Federation for the Surgery for Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) 2013, Istanbul, Turkey.

Bariatric News speaks to Dr Ashish Sinha, an anaesthesiologist specialising in extremely obese patients at Hahnemann University Hospital, Philadelphia, about the challenges he faces when treating bariatric patients.

Dr Jerome Dargent is the chairman of the International Symposium on Non-Invasive Bariatric Techniques, held in Lyon, France. Based on his experience with non-invasive techniques, he has written a book listing 40 new and developing bariatric technologies, to be released before this year's conference. We talked to Jerome about his book, ‘Innovative Technologies and Non-Invasive Procedures in Bariatric Surgery’, as well as his upcoming conference, to be held on April 26-27.

Mr Richard Welbourn is a senior bariatric surgeon at Musgrove Park Hospital and Nuffield Health Hospital in Taunton. He led the effort to develop the UK’s National Bariatric Surgery Registry, and in January 2013, he will become president of the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society.